Australian Open 2021 - Andrey Rublev sets up all Russian clash with Medvedev after Ruud retires

ByEurosport

Published 15/02/2021 at 07:39 GMT

Andrey Rublev will face his fellow Moscovite and friend Daniil Medvedev in the last eight of the Australian Open after advancing from his round of 16 tie against Caper Ruud, with the Norwegian retiring due to injury. Rublev has never defeated Medvedev and lost to him at the same stage in last year's US Open quarter-final.

Andrey Rublev

Image credit: Getty Images

Andrey Rublev will meet his fellow Russian and close friend Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after Casper Ruud was forced to retire from their last-16 encounter on Monday.

Rublev had won the first 6-2 and led by a break in the second send when Ruud called for treatment on what appears to be an abdominal issue. The Norwegian soldiered on manfully, forcing the seventh seed to a tiebreaker, which Rublev duly won 7-3.

But before they could begin the third, Ruud announced that he was throwing in the towel and his injury had got the best of him.

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"I feel sorry for Casper," said 23-year-old Rublev. "I hope he recovers real quick. I did not expect it to end this way, but this is sport.

""I'm feeling perfect. "I'm feeling physically great."

On the prospect of playing Medvedev, Ruud is excited by the chance to avenge his loss to his compatriot at last year's US Open and record his first career win over the 24-year-old.